I hate people who say UPND is tribal, says Chuzu

I HATE people who politically and negatively brand the United Party for National Development (UPND), as a liability, founding member Michael Chuzu laments.

A visibly and audibly hurt Mr. Chuzu described such people as inhuman and deserving to die.

Mr Chuzu, a UPND Chairperson for Youth Sports and Child Development said it is evil to unfairly put a tribal tag on the UPND, when since inception in 1998, the team spearheaded by entrepreneur-cum-politician Hakainde Hichilema, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, Mutale Nalumango and Stephen Katuka has embraced all Zambians, regardless of their geographical heritage.

He said history has it that Tonga’s have contributed greatly to the democratization of Zambia, building on the open door policy of former African National Congress ( ANC) leader, late Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula heritage.

Mr Chuzu said if ‘The Old Lion’ Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula had not been patriotic, Zambia would not have gained political independence on Saturday 24th October 1964.

“Had Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula not sold his vote to Dr Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda, to form a United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government, Zambia would be where it is now,” the UPND founding member said.

He explained that Second Republican President, the late Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba won the 1991 and 1996 elections respectively, courtesy of Tonga Speaking People, who gave him overwhelming votes who originated from Luapula Province.

“I hate someone who, says UPND and its leader Hakainde Hichilema are tribal. Such a person must be killed because as such an attitude is un Zambian. In Zambia, we embrace the slogan- One Zambia One Nation, and our National Anthem is clear. It does not segregate anyone on tribe. Whether Tonga, Bemba,Tumbuka, Kaonde Lozi, Mambwe or Chewa, we are all Zambians,” Mr Chuzu protested.

Added Mr Chuzu: “This tribal tag was just created by the PF because they feared Hichilema, that the biggest opposition leader would deal with their corrupt activities in event he becomes President. I really hate it when I hear their tribal talk.”

He wondered why it becomes an issue when people of Southern Province vote for their own.

He reminded Zambians that politics of wako ni wako originating from the Eastern Province have been there since independence.

“Late Christon Tembo came from Eastern Province and when he stood on the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) ticket in the 2001 polls, he got zero votes in Luapula and Northern Provinces.

But,why do people make it an issue if it is Southern Province? I think they should be objective,” he said.

Mr Chuzu went for the Patriotic Front (PF) for performing tribal cleansing in Parastatal companies.

” It is annoying that people from certain tribes that did not vote for the PF in the last elections are being retired in the infamous national interest. Now you relieve an innocent family person from his duty whose crime is only belonging to certain tribe. Such nonsense should come to an end,” Mr Chuzu warned.